Saturday, May 12, 2012

Straight Roads, oh for a bend!

Since leaving Reims there have been mainly straight roads, with the odd twistas I meandered through the vines in the Champagne country. Not that I knowanything about champagne, but I did recognize and take a photo of a Bolingersign as I meandered past.This day was a terrible day - not because of the country, which was lovely,but because nothing was open and it wasn't till two days later I dicoveredwhy. As I walked along the canal at a place called St Leonard, I could heara marching band somewhere, and I kept hearing it peridodically for quite awhile. As it turns out, the reason would have been because it was the daythat Reims marked the signing of the Armistice, and this was the reason fornothing being open - it was a public holiday! Needless to say by the end ofthe day I was ravenous as I had expected to find bakeries open in almostevery town I went through, but no joy. Added to this the town that I haddecided to stop in had a closed Chambre d'Hote (a B & B) and a closed hotel.I was summoned into a cafe where three older women were playing Bridge andone of them took me on. Mind you - she did quite nicely - €10 for the bed,and €10 for the food.Having walked this day for around 10 kms along the canal, I was prepared thenext day for the 20 kms of canal towpath the whole way into Chalons. What alovely town - beautiful buildings and very friendly people.The next day I had decided I would try to walk as little as possible. What ajoke! Firstly I caught the bus, so I thought to a suburb on the outskirtsof the town, only to realise half way through the journey that we were on ourway back again! I got off quickly, but only saved myself one stop! I thendecided that I would walk to the best road to hitch to the tiny little townwhere I was staying - the only way to get there as there was no bus or train.On the way I met another pilgrim - she knew who I was "Are you Janet?" -she had seen my name in Reims! Jaqui is a New Zealander and was very pleaseto see a close "cousin"! We walked together till I turned off on to anotherroad to hitch. Got a ride to the next village almost immediately, but then,because it was lunch time, I waited nearly 2 hours for the next ride.Monsiuer was very helpful - took me right out of his way to the start of theAncien Voie Romain! I had nothing for it but to walk until I found a roadthat intersected the path. Striaght as a dye, white gravel, no shade - getthe picture?Anyway another Monsieur stopped and took me all the way to his place and thenpassed me over to his wife who took me the rest of the way! She insisted onchecking that she was dropping me off at the right place too! Things were,in the end, really with me that day.Today has been another day of Roman Roads, and getting lost! I was saved bya very kind man who picked me up and dropped me off in the right place.Tonight I am in my first pilgrim gite, and as of an hour ago I think I amthere alone! I think this is the end of the straight roads. They are nice for a bit, butlet me tell you - the novetly soon wears off and you start longing for a bendso that you can wonder what is around the corner. I focus on the soundsaround me - the bird calls, and even a swarm of bees today! I moved realquick when I heard them! Not sure when I will be able to post again, and hopefully next ime I can postsome photos of these straight paths!